Investigation on the Genotoxicity of Mercuric Chloride to Freshwater Clarias gariepinus

• Main Author: Shahid Mahboob, Hmoud Fares Alkkahem Al-Balwai, Fahad Al-Misned and Zubair Ahmad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 2014-01-01
• Series: Pakistan Veterinary Journal
• Subjects: Chromosomal aberration; Clarias gariepinus; Cytogenetics; Genotoxicity; Heavy metal; Mercuric chloride; Micronucleus test; Sister chromatid exchange
• Online Access: http://pvj.com.pk/pdf-files/34_1/100-103.pdf

The cytogenetic effect of heavy metal was studied in Clarias gariepinus using the micronucleus test, chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchange. The fish were kept separately and treated with four different concentrations of mercuric chloride for a period of 7 days. For the micronucleus test blood samples were obtained from the caudal vein. The mean micronuclei frequencies were recorded as 0.20, 0.25, 0.50, 0.65 and 0.79 in controls and 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 ppm in groups treated with mercuric chloride, respectively. Kidney tissues were used for in vivo chromosome preparation. The mean frequencies of cells with chromosomal aberrations were 0.21, 0.32, 0.49, 0.70 and 0.97 in the control and 1, 3, 5 and 7 ppm in groups treated with mercuric chloride, respectively. Similarly, the mean frequencies of sister chromatid exchange were recorded as 0.10, 0.28, 0.47, 0.58 and 0.64 in controls and 1, 3, 5 and 7 ppm in groups treated with mercuric chloride, respectively. The findings of present experiment suggest that HgCl2 caused genotoxic effects in fish.